by Graeme Hall
‘Well not yet, but soon enough.’
‘So the same question you asked me: why here?’
‘My supervisor – Professor Ye – is a leader in the field. It wasn’t so much that I wanted to come to Shanghai, but I really wanted to work with him. I heard him give a lecture in Hong Kong outlining some of the things we’ll be doing with our phones in the future. It was inspiring.’
‘That’s a cool reason. Is this your block?’ Susan gestured to the nearby accommodation building.
‘Yeah, I share a dorm room.’
Susan rubbed her arms.
‘It’s starting to get cold,’ she said. The sun had started to disappear behind a building and the day had not been warm to start with.
‘True. Probably time to get going,’ Kwok-wah said reluctantly. He wanted to continue the conversation but in his shyness couldn’t think of a way of doing so.
‘You know,’ Susan said, ‘being here over Christmas is a bit sad. Do you want to get together sometime? Maybe grab a bite to eat? Not tonight, I’m out with my room-mates, but tomorrow? I know one place I’d like to try.’
‘Sure. Why not?’ Kwok-wah tried to sound relaxed.
‘Cool. Let’s meet here again tomorrow at … what shall we say? Seven? No, I’ve a better idea. Let’s meet at the countdown clock.’ The countdown clock was a large digital display, some twenty feet high, counting down in days, hours, minutes and seconds to the return of Hong Kong to China. The clock occupied a prime spot in front of the main administration building.
Kwok-wah continued to sit on the bench as he watched Susan head back towards her dorm. Only then did it occur to ask himself what she was doing so far from her own building in the first place.
Chapter 5
‘Sam has everything ready for you to sign, Mr Leung,’ said Paul Ridgeway as he ushered Mr Leung and his companion into the boardroom where Sam was waiting with the papers to be signed. Paul Ridgeway had come to Hong Kong in the seventies and unknown to him the joke in the department was that he’d brought with him a seventies hairstyle that he had never relinquished. Over the years his wife and colleagues had managed to dissuade him from wide lapels and kipper ties, but he wouldn’t budge on his hair, which today was particularly bouffant and rested gently on his shoulders.
‘Yes, Mr Leung, it’s all here,’ Sam said, gesturing to the bundles of papers laid out on the mahogany table that took pride of place in the boardroom. The room had a look common to a traditional Hong Kong law firm; prints of colonial Hong Kong designed to give clients a sense of history and continuity decorated the walls, while a Chinese vase that rested on a well-stocked drinks cabinet acted as a reminder of where the office was. For visitors from overseas, the windows from the nineteenth floor offered the perfect tourist view of Victoria Harbour and Kowloon, the Star Ferry weaving its way across the water, the afternoon sun glinting off the windows of the Peninsula Hotel. Before Paul and the client had arrived, Sam had been watching a plane as it banked making its final approach into Kai Tak. All the clichéd images of Hong Kong in one single convenient vista.
‘The pages needing your signature are all marked with a red tab.’ Sam opened the papers to the first page. Mr Leung took a fountain pen and began to sign while his companion looked on. Mr Leung had been a client of the firm for many years. Now in his seventies, but still with a good head of hair, dyed black and parted in the centre, he remained very much the patriarch of his family company. He had a number of children who were responsible for parts of the business, but there was no sign of Mr Leung stepping down from the top any time soon. Mr Leung’s companion was not family and was a couple of decades younger, though in contrast to Mr Leung, his hair was carefully combed to hide its relative absence.
Sam had done little else recently other than to prepare the contracts. Good though Emma had been, Sam had been grateful that Annie was back while they worked long into the evenings, and the time difference didn’t help with Sam often on the phone to lawyers in the Bahamas. But still, when he had time to reflect, Sam missed Emma. On her final day they’d made one of those ‘must get together sometime’ arrangements, but Mr Leung had had to come first, and apart from one after-work drink – which hadn’t gone well – little had happened.
While Mr Leung signed, Sam considered his companion. Sam had seen him in a couple of meetings now, but he never gave anything away and had rarely spoken at all unless in reply to a question. At first Sam thought it might be a language issue – perhaps his English wasn’t that good, and he seemed to be a Mandarin speaker – but when he did speak he had good, albeit American-accented, English. Mr Leung seemed respectful of him though, treated him as an equal, which was in itself a little surprising. Sam had met Mr Leung a number of times before and he had always been very clearly the man in charge. Even his children always knew their place.
‘Thank you, Paul. I’ve been impressed with your work, as always,’ said Mr Leung as he turned the papers to find the next signature page.
‘We try our best, don’t we, Sam?’
‘Especially for such long-standing clients,’ Sam echoed.
‘We’ve known each other for quite a while now, haven’t we, Paul?’ said Mr Leung.
‘It must be the best part of twenty years, I think. You were one of my first clients when I came here.’
‘And I hope it will continue that way,’ said Mr Leung as he continued to sign. ‘Even after next year.’
‘Why wouldn’t it?’
‘I know some expatriates are thinking of leaving, but not yourself?’
‘No, not me. It will be business as usual, as far as I can see.’
‘Quite right, Paul. But still, things will be different will they not? Are you not at least a little bit … how shall I say … concerned about our … our friends in the north?’ Mr Leung’s companion looked up and smiled at this point.
‘Some things may be different perhaps, but also the same,’ said Paul. ‘We all still want the same things don’t we? Stability, prosperity – no rocking the boat.’ This had been the Hong Kong business mantra for some time now.
‘And young Sam here? Is he the future?’ Mr Leung turned to Sam. ‘Will you be staying on, Sam? After the handover?’
‘I certainly hope so, Mr Leung.’ Sam didn’t think any other answer was politic in the situation, and anyway, it was true. Sam saw his future in Hong Kong and like most expats he didn’t see any reason why the handover would make any difference to him.
Mr Leung had signed the last page and he passed the papers back to Sam.
‘Congratulations, Mr Leung,’ said Paul, acknowledging also the companion who had been silent while he watched Mr Leung sign. ‘You now own 55% of Bright Talk Telecommunications.’
‘Most satisfying.’ Mr Leung rose from the table and the others followed suit. His companion whispered something in Mr Leung’s ear. ‘We have to be going, Paul, but perhaps you and your charming wife would care to join me in my box at Sha Tin on Sunday?’
‘We would be delighted. Is your horse running?’
‘She is, yes, in the fourth race. But please – and I only say this because you are a good friend – I would not put too much money on her. She is too young at the moment, but she has promise.’
After Sam had accompanied the clients to the lifts he went to Paul Ridgeway’s office.
‘That seemed to go well,’ said Sam.
Paul looked up from his desk where he was signing letters his secretary had left for him.
‘Yes. Thanks Sam, you’ve done good work on this deal.’
‘I don’t know Mr Leung’s partner well. Is he a mainlander?’
‘Why do you ask?’
‘I was just curious. He seems out of keeping with Mr Leung’s usual style of doing business.’
‘And what do you think is Mr Leung’s usual style?’
‘A bit old-fashioned perhaps, very traditional. Quite proper. This guy seems … I don’t know … a sharp suit compared to Mr Leung’s three-piece?’
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nbsp; ‘Perhaps, old school though he may be, even Mr Leung has to move with the times.’
‘It’s just that …’ Sam hesitated before continuing, uncertain whether to broach the subject but knowing from experience what could happen if he didn’t. ‘It’s just that there are rumours going around.’
‘Rumours?’
‘About mainland money being involved in this deal.’
Paul Ridgeway sat back in his chair and studied Sam for a moment.
‘Three pieces of advice for you, Sam, if you want to get anywhere.’ There was a severity in the voice that made Sam wish he’d kept his mouth shut. ‘Firstly, you shouldn’t listen to gossip. Secondly, we are professional advisers. Our clients expect discretion. Thirdly, sometimes the best questions are those that are left unasked. Understood?’
‘Of course.’
‘Good. Now, I’ve things to get on with. Please close the door on the way out.’
Sam went back to his office, inwardly cursing himself for raising the subject. After all, it was only rumour and gossip, which had come from Rob. Not the most reliable of sources. But he’d been stung once before by being an unwitting accomplice, and that was how he had come to be in Hong Kong rather than London. Sam wasn’t sure if Paul Ridgeway knew how he had come to be looking for a new job; it had never been mentioned, but there were occasions when Sam was in a more cynical mood and wondered if it might even have been viewed as a positive. Just the sort of skill and experience he was looking for.
Still angry with himself, Sam slammed his office door shut with such venom the flimsy partition wall shook. After a short pause the door opened again.
‘Is it safe to come in?’ asked Kate.
‘Of course. Sorry.’
‘No need to apologise to me, but you may have woken up the conveyancing department downstairs.’
A faint smile briefly toyed with the idea of crossing Sam’s lips before thinking better of it. Kate took the chair facing Sam across his desk.
‘Do you want to talk to Dr Kate about it?’
This time the smile decided to give it a try and rested briefly on Sam’s mouth before concluding the time still wasn’t right.
‘Sorry. I’ve just made a fool of myself in front of Paul.’
‘That’s it? Some of us do that all the time. What did you say?’
‘I just … I mentioned there were rumours and gossip that the deal was being done using mainland money. He basically told me to shut up and stop asking questions. It wasn’t so much what he said as the tone of voice he used. A bit like a headmaster scolding a troublesome child.’
‘What? You came out with all that on the basis of what Rob said?’ Kate laughed. ‘Are you an idiot or something? You know what he’s like. Anyway, so what if there’s mainland money involved? Pretty much every deal I’ve dealt with these last three years has included some China aspect to it. It’s normal these days. You know that.’
‘I know, you’re right, of course. But telecoms is a bit different, it might be viewed as a sensitive industry, sensitive in political terms that is, but still it probably wouldn’t be an issue if it was all out in the open. But if there is mainland money and it’s being hidden from view using a Bahamas company, then you start wondering why.’
‘You think there might be some ulterior motive?’
‘Perhaps,’ said Sam. ‘Perhaps it’s just being laundered. But whatever the reason, somebody would be hiding something.’
‘If it’s true, of course,’ said Kate.
‘Indeed. But Paul certainly didn’t deny the rumours.’
‘Maybe he doesn’t know?’
‘Unlikely. But anyway, that’s what happened. Nothing more. I’m going with him and a client to Shanghai next week so we’ll see how that goes. See if I can get back in his good books again.’
‘Fair enough,’ said Kate. ‘Let’s talk about something more interesting. How are things with Emma since she was here?’
Sam was sufficiently embarrassed by this question that he almost wanted to go back to the subject of mainland money and Bahamas shell companies.
‘We had a drink after work one day.’
‘And?’
‘And what?’
‘Is that it?’ Kate sounded horrified. ‘Please tell me you’ve seen her since then.’
‘I’m afraid not. I’ve been busy with this deal, she’s been busy …’ Sam knew how pathetic all that sounded.
‘Oh Sam, please, enough with the excuses already. Stop being so feeble. I hope you’re not just sitting around waiting until you and I are the last ones left on the shelf, because I’m not. I have a date this weekend.’
‘Anyway, I don’t think anything is going to happen. The one time we did meet up was all a bit strange.’
‘Strange? What do you mean?’ asked Kate.
‘Well, we went for a drink in Causeway Bay because she’d been working in an office there. That was all fine; we had a couple of glasses of wine and then I suggested we go get something to eat.’
‘Sounds like a standard first date to me.’
‘Exactly. So far so good, but it was what happened on the way to the restaurant that was odd.’
‘Will you just get on with it?’ interrupted Kate. ‘Cut to the chase. What was so strange about the evening?’
‘I’m getting there, I’m getting there. Causeway Bay was really busy, well, it always is of course, but it was particularly busy. I think there might have been something on in Victoria Park. We were walking against the flow of people who were all going the other way towards the park, and there was this family, a couple with two small kids who were messing around. One of them – a small boy – wasn’t watching where he was going and ran straight into me, knocking me off-balance.’
‘Did you fall?’
‘No, not really, but I stumbled off the pavement into the road and a taxi had to brake sharply to avoid hitting me.’
‘Shit. We’re you alright?’
‘Sure. The taxi driver gave me a gesture or two and I could see him mouth something I probably don’t want to know, but I was fine. It was afterwards everything was weird. Emma just totally freaked out. When I’d recovered from the initial shock, she was standing there shaking and her eyes … they were just staring blankly. It took me a while to get her back to something like normal. After that she wasn’t interested in dinner and we just went our separate ways. But you should have seen her, Kate. You’d think she’d been the one who was nearly run over, not me. It was weird, so I don’t know—’
‘Oh. But—’
‘—but, if you’d let me finish, as it happens we’re going to a movie tonight.’
‘A movie!’ Kate clapped her hands in delight like a child at Christmas. ‘That makes it a date. A proper date – just make sure you’re not still in a bad mood. Believe me, there’s nothing attractive about a man in a sulk. What are you going to see?’
‘The new Maggie Cheung film, what’s it called …? Almost a Love Story.’
‘Good choice, I saw it at the weekend. A perfect date movie. Mind you, I didn’t have you down as an aficionado of Hong Kong cinema.’
‘I’m not,’ Sam acknowledged. ‘It was Emma’s choice. I think she likes having the subtitles. They help with her hearing.’
Chapter 6
‘How are you finding it here? In China?’ Susan asked a few days after Christmas. They were sitting on a bench by the athletics track, taking a break after a morning run; a common interest, they’d discovered. Kwok-wah and Susan were spending an increasing amount of time together. Kwok-wah wasn’t sure what the definition of a date was, and whether they had been on a date or not, but they had explored some of the bars and cheaper restaurants they could afford on their monthly allowances.
The day was cool, if not as cold as it recently had been; overcast and the air damp and heavy. Susan took a swig from the water bottle she was carrying and offered it to Kwok-wah.
‘Is it what you expected?’ she continued. ‘Compared with Hong Kong.’
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br /> ‘I don’t know. I don’t know that I’d given it any thought. I don’t know what I expected. What do you make of the place? I mean it must be even stranger for you than it is for me. You know … coming from the States.’
Susan laughed. ‘Oh my God, you’ve no idea how weird China is to an American – even when you’re Chinese. It freaks me out sometimes. I mean, I’ve done a bit of travelling around Southeast Asia but China is still something else.’
‘What do you miss most about home?’
‘Pretty much everything! The food for a start. I’d kill for a plate of pancakes with maple syrup. Or just hanging round the mall with my friends. Driving along the Pacific Highway in a convertible with the top down. The weather. Especially the weather … or, to be more precise, the air. I mean’ – Susan was getting into her stride – ‘when did we last see the sun? It’s just day after day of this horrible grey smog. Except when it’s raining, of course. Then it’s just wet.’
‘And yet you’re here?’
‘And yet I’m here.’ Susan smiled. ‘Well it’s not all bad, of course, and like I said it’s got to be good experience for my career. But we weren’t talking about me. What about you? What would you be doing now if you were in Hong Kong?’
‘Much the same as here mostly. I’d play basketball. Chat with friends. Go see movies. Mostly though I’d be doing something on the computer. Playing games, writing programs. That sort of thing. Go to the Golden Shopping Arcade.’
‘I didn’t have you down as a shopping addict.’
‘It’s not a regular mall. It’s a place devoted to computers and so on, there are loads of little shops selling all the latest stuff.’
‘Ah … I see. You’re passionate about your subject, aren’t you? I like that. I don’t think I am. For me it’s just a way to a job, but I really like the way you’re so into it. I really do. It’s cool.’
‘Cool? People normally call me a geek, but I just want to do my research.’
‘And is it going well?’
‘It’s okay, I guess.’ Kwok-wah hesitated before going further. If he was honest with himself, he had been feeling a little dissatisfied with things for a while, but he wasn’t sure he could identify exactly what was wrong. He was making progress with the research, considering it was early days, but he was largely ignored by the rest of the department and felt rather isolated.